KUALA LUMPUR – A stop work order has been issued on the construction of a toll gantry purportedly for toll collection near Gohtong Jaya, for motorists going to Genting Highlands.
Ketari assemblyman Thomas Su confirmed the stop work order to Scoop, and that it was issued by the Bentong Municipal Council (MPB).
The stop work order was issued on Wednesday, a Malaysian news portal reported earlier today, citing sources.
This was because the developer had not submitted any plans nor had it sought approval from the local authorities to build a toll booth.
The authority to collect toll was also not under the MPB’s jurisdiction, nor had plans to collect toll been raised with the Pahang government.
Chinese daily Sin Chew first reported plans to collect toll from visitors headed to the tourist haven in Genting Highlands, which is in the Bentong constituency. Ketari is a state seat within the constituency.
The toll is to be collected by Lingkaran Cekap Sdn Bhd, the company that maintains roads in Genting Highlands.
Sin Chew had also reported, citing a company spokesman, that those driving down from Genting Highlands would not have to pay the toll.
The Batang Kali-Gohtong Jaya road was built in the mid-1960s by Genting Malaysia Bhd, and Lingkaran Cekap has been maintaining slopes, roads, sewage system and streetlights as well as clearing debris.
Genting has a 49.4% interest in Lingkaran Cekap, according to a 2022 annual report. – October 20, 2023